According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, various companies are beginning to take cell phone security seriously. Verizon is currently working with Lookout, a San Francisco-based company known for remote backup and geolocation apps for BlackBerry, Android and Windows Mobile devices. We have hopes that RIM will soon be releasing BlackBerry Protect, which promises to lock or even wipe a misplaced phone, pinpoint your prized BlackBerry on a map and make regularly-scheduled wireless backups.

Security researchers and technology executives say their moves to improve security mark the start of an effort that will take years to play out because the wireless industry until recently was more focused on signing up customers than hardening mobile devices against attacks.

By far the most ambitious plans in the article however, belong to AT&T, which aside from recent deals with MobileIron and McAfee, is currently opening a new mobile security lab in New York City. From here, the company will research malware, worms, viruses and other threats as they develop in the mobile world. "Everyone is realizing that this is an uncontrolled environment," said AT&T chief security officer Edward G. Amoroso. "We don't want to have the same problems that we had with PCs."

What do you currently do to protect your phone from attack or data theft? Some apps out there help you to remotely wipe the phone while some apps that offer subscription service can help you track your beloved BlackBerry down in the event you leave it behind somewhere or someone steals it.

I think that the basic thing you can do is, use the security functions that come with your BB and be proactive about your device. Having a password locked BB will at least protect your data, if your unfortunate enough to lose it/leave it some place. The vast majority of lost/stolen cellphones never get returned to their owners. I have had hundreds left in my Cabs, they all got handed in as lost property to the Police, but not all people sadly are honest. So unless you have extremely sensitive data, and work for MI5 or CIA I doubt you would get it back in any fit state . Then please just take of your BB. As regards to online security you can edit permissions, so you have to manually accept incoming/outgoing data from apps.

There's a thread on this site all about doing this. And back up often.
Keep it safe!
Alan

02-12-2011, 08:46 PM

Joe Jerde

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanjolin

I think that the basic thing you can do is, use the security functions that come with your BB and be proactive about your device. Having a password locked BB will at least protect your data, if your unfortunate enough to lose it/leave it some place. The vast majority of lost/stolen cellphones never get returned to their owners. I have had hundreds left in my Cabs, they all got handed in as lost property to the Police, but not all people sadly are honest. So unless you have extremely sensitive data, and work for MI5 or CIA I doubt you would get it back in any fit state . Then please just take of your BB. As regards to online security you can edit permissions, so you have to manually accept incoming/outgoing data from apps.

There's a thread on this site all about doing this. And back up often.
Keep it safe!
Alan

This is where apps like SmrtGuard come in handy, to be able to remote wipe your device if lost/stolen. There are also ways to track your device as long as you have the GPS enabled. Wouldn't that be fun, to track down the jerk who stole your device, and show up at their doorstep with a police officer. :)